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Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant inherited cancer predisposition syndrome, characterized by development of a variety of neoplasms in multiple organs. Central nervous system hemangioblastoma (CHB) is the most common manifestation of VHL disease. The germline mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene are responsible for the inherited cancer predisposition syndrome. To expand the VHL mutation data and to investigate the tumorigenesis of VHL-associated CNS hemangioblastoma, 24 CHB tissue samples and blood samples of 14 patients from 10 Chinese VHL families were collected and subjected to molecular genetic analysis. Six distinctive germline mutations were identified, and the 601 G to C (Val130Phe) mutation is reported for the first time. Somatic mutations analysis of the VHL gene in VHL-associated CHB showed that loss of heterozygosity (LOH) occurred in more than half of the cases. In addition, expression of the ZAC1 tumor suppressor gene protein was studied using immunohistochemistry staining in CHB tissues with a specific polyclonal antibody. The ZAC1 protein was lost in all CHB. Our data exhibited high frequency of LOH of ZAC1 gene in VHL-associated CHB, indicating that ZAC1 may have a role in tumorigenesis of VHL-associated CHB.

Multiple vascular patterns are presented in tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), including microvascular hyperplasia, branching capillaries, numerous capillaries without definite pattern, hyalinized vessels, and angiomatous area. These vascular patterns play important roles in pathological diagnosis of brain tumors. Because of insufficient recognition of the significance of the various vascular patterns, only a few of them have been applied in pathological diagnosis, leading to missed diagnosis and diagnostic errors. Microvascular hyperplasia can present in multiple brain tumors but display different diagnostic values. Otherwise, varied brain tumors characterized by branching capillaries or vascular pattern mimicking branching capillaries should be given careful consideration. Therefore, a familiarity of these tumors and their vascular pattern is essential for general pathologists. This study reviews the value of various kinds of vascular patterns for pathological diagnosis of brain tumors, constructs a framework for better understanding, and provides a novel perspective for general pathologists.

To study clinicopathologic features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome-related and sporadic hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system (CNS-HB).Histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical (EnVision method) and clinical features of 21 VHL syndrome and 63 sporadic CNS-HB cases were studied with correlation of the available follow-up information.Twenty-one VHL patients accompanied with a total of 87 CNS-HBs, including one patient of developing 12 HBs within 13 years. There were 10 patients presenting other lesions related to VHL, including 6 retinal HBs, 4 pancreatic tumors (endocrine tumor and microcystic cystadenoma), 1 clear renal cell carcinoma, 4 renal cysts and 1 endolymphatic sac tumor. One patient developed 5 different tumors related to VHL within a period of 4 years. In the 63 cases of sporadic CNS-HB (34 male and 29 female), the mean age was 43.0 years. Among the 18 VHL syndrome patients with available follow-up information, 14 were still alive and within them, 4 became disabled and 11 had developed new lesions. The other 4 patients died. Among the 42 patients of sporadic HB with follow-up information, 39 were alive including 3 disabled cases, and the other 3 died. Histologically, the tumors showed large and vacuolated stromal cells. Some tumors showed atypical nuclei. Involvement of the brain tissue was seen in 32 cases, among which, 21 patients with available follow-up information were learnt to be alive. Tumor cells of HB stained positive for vimentin, EGFR, Inhibin alpha and D2-40, but negative for CD34 and CD68. In 3 cases of HB, some stromal cells were positive for GFAP. All cases showed a low expression for Ki-67, except 2 cases with 2% and 1 case with 5% Ki-67 indices.VHL syndrome is a multisystem disorder with a poor prognosis and a high rate of missed diagnosis. The syndrome is characterized by development of various benign and malignant tumors. The most common tumor is CNS-HB, which occurs predominantly in the cerebellum. Patients with VHL syndrome tend to present at a younger age than patients with sporadic CNS-HBs, and VHL related HB occurs more predominantly in the brain stem and spinal cord. Prognosis of CNS-HB patients is not correlated with the nuclear atypicality, expression for Ki-67 and involvement of the brain tissue. Because new lesions may develop during the patient's lifetime. So that, regular clinical inspection is recommended in order to check up the development of any new lesions.

To study the concordance rate of external pathology consultation referred by hospitals of various scales and to evaluate the value of such practice.A total of 12 206 external pathology consultation cases referred by outside institutions were encountered during a 5-year period. The final pathologic diagnoses in 3289 cases were compared with the original interpretations. Each case was reviewed by at least two experienced pathologists. Immunohistochemical study was carried in selected examples. The pathologic findings were categorized as follows: (1) no diagnostic discrepancy, (2) minor diagnostic discrepancy and (3) major diagnostic discrepancy.Amongst the 12 206 cases studied, 7198 cases (59.0%) were sampled from the digestive tract, hematolymphoid system, soft tissue or breast. Seven thousand eight hundred and sixty-five cases (64.4%) were referred by small and medium-sized hospitals, while only 948 cases (7.8%) were referred by large hospitals (ranked IIIA). The diagnoses in 1842 cases (15.1%) were confirmed upon examination of the original paraffin sections, while the diagnoses in 2569 cases (21.1%) were made with cutting of additional sections from the paraffin blocks. On the other hand, the diagnoses in 7795 cases (63.8%) were arrived with the application of ancillary studies, including histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Amongst the 3289 cases reviewed, diagnostic agreement was noted in 582 cases (17.7%), while major diagnostic discrepancy was observed in 113 cases (3.4%), including a change in diagnosis from "benign" to "malignant" in 31 cases (0.9%) and from "malignant" to "benign" in 38 cases (1.1%). The pathologic classification of the original diagnoses was modified in 44 cases (1.3%).External pathology consultation is useful for patient management in small and medium-sized hospitals, especially in resolving difficult and controversial pathologic diagnoses. Application of ancillary techniques, including immunohistochemistry, further helps to clear up the potential diagnostic dilemma.

To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis and differential diagnoses of proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma (PES).Five cases of PES were retrieved from pathology files. Clinical, pathologic and immunohistochemical features of the tumors were reviewed.One patient was female and 4 were male. Ages of the patients ranged from 19 to 46 years. The sites of the tumor involvement were vulvar (2 cases), hypogastric zone (1 case), anterosuperior iliac spine (1 case) and buttock (1 case). Clinically, the tumor masses were painless and progressive solitary nodules. Microscopically, the tumor cell growth was infiltrative in nature, nodular in appearance with degenerative and necrotic cells at the central areas. The tumors consisted of relatively uniform epithelioid cells with round or oval nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin (5/5), CK (4/5), EMA (4/5), beta-catenin (3/5), CD34 (3/5), and S-100 protein (1/5), but were negative for SMA, MyoD1, Desmin, HMB-45, CK7 and CK20.Definitive diagnosis of PES relies on its histopathological characteristics in conjunction with appropriate immunohistochemical findings.

To study clinicopathologic features, treatment and prognosis of pilocytic astrocytoma (PA).Histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical (EnVision method) and clinical features of 68 cases of PA were studied by microscopic investigation with correlation of clinical follow-up information when available.Thirty-five male patients and 33 female patients were studied. The patient's age ranged from 3 to 66 years (mean = 20.1 years). The mean time from symptom onset to surgery was 371 days (range, 3 days to 14 years). Cystic degeneration was noted in 41 cases (60.3%), and enhancement of the tumor was noted in 43 cases (87.8%). On postcontrast imaging examination there were 33 cases involving the cerebellum (48.5%). Total tumor excision was performed in 35 patients, subtotal tumor excision was performed in 31 patients, and the procedures of other 2 patients were not clear. Among 51 patients with follow-up information, 44 were alive, 7 had recurrent tumor, and 7 died. The post-operative survival ranged from 2 months to 124 months (mean survival = 48.1 months). Five years and ten years survival rates were 89%, respectively. Tumors with classic histopathology demonstrated biphasic pattern of growth, consisting of compact elongated bipolar astrocytes associated with rosenthal fibers, and less cellular areas of multipolar cells with granular bodies and microcyst. Some cases showed atypia of nuclei, and occasional mitoses. Involvement of subarachnoid space was seen in 17 cases. One case had anaplastic features. All cases showed diffuse positive staining for GFAP and low expression for Ki-67, except 1 anaplastic tumor with 10% Ki-67 indices. Tumors with subarachnoid space involvement showed positive reticular fiber staining and negative EMA staining.PA is a benign, WHO grade I tumor with favorable prognosis, and does not require radiotherapy after total resection. The tumor can be mistaken as higher-grade astrocytoma when involving the subarachnoid space, and with cytological atypia, leading to unnecessary radiotherapy after surgery. Recurrence rate is increased when only partial resection is achieved. The outcome for patients with brainstem tumor or anaplastic PA is poor.

To describe the distinctive histopathological changes of nontuberculous mycobacteria lymphadenitis.An experimental animal model of nontuberculous mycobacteria lymphadenitis was established and the histopathological changes were observed by light microscope. The paraffin imbedded tissue samples from patients suspected of having lymphoid tuberculosis were also detected by triplex polymerase chain reaction and studied by light microscope.The distinctive histopathological changes of nontuberculous mycobacteria lymphadenitis in the animal model were as follows: (1) Tubercular granuloma formation in lymph nodes which were infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria. Coagulation necrosis was located at the center of the granuloma, and the necrosis looked different from the caseation necrosis caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. Many neutrophils and their nuclear debris were distributed over the necrosis area. Surrounding the central necrosis area, many epithelioid cells, lymph cells and mononuclear cells could be found. The periphery of the granuloma was surrounded by fibrous tissues. Langhans giant cells could be found in the granuloma and outside the granuloma, while these cells were usually found only in the granuloma of tuberculosis. (2) Serpiginous necrosis was found in the lymph nodes infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria. Many neutrophils and their nuclear debris were distributed over the necrosis area. Around the central necrosis area, many epithelioid cells, lymph cells and mononuclear cells could be found. The fibrous tissues were in the borderline. (3) Star-like necrosis and aristiform necrosis were also found in lymph nodes infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria. A paraffin imbedded tissue sample was detected by triplex polymerase chain reaction and the diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteria lymphadenitis was made. In this sample, epithelioid granuloma, serpiginous necrosis and star-like necrosis were found. Neutrophils and their nuclear debris were found distributed over the necrosis area, while epithelioid cells, lymph cells, mononuclear cells and Langhans giant cells were found around the central necrosis area. Polar arrangement of the nuclei of epithelioid cells was evident. The lesion was surrounded by fibrous and collagen tissues.Serpiginous, star-like and aristiform necrosis were the distinctive histopathological changes of nontuberculous mycobacteria lymphadenitis. Neutrophils and their nuclear debris were abundant over the necrosis area. Polar arrangement of the nuclei of epithelioid cells was also a distinctive histopathological manifestation.

To study the clinicopathologic features, treatment response and prognosis of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA).Amongst a total of 6 287 patients with central nervous system tumors encountered in Nanjing General Hospital of PLA during the period from 1980 to 2004, 15 cases of PXA were found. Two additional cases of PXA were also retrieved from the authors' consultation files. The clinicopathologic features of the 17 cases were studied. Follow-up information was available in 10 patients.The age of the patients ranged from 12 to 55 years (mean = 30.8 years). The male-to-female ratio was 6:11. Commonest clinical symptoms included seizures, headaches and dizziness. The tumors in 16 patients were located in the superficial cerebral cortex (94.1%). Seven cases (41.2%) involved the temporal lobe. The size of the tumors varied from 2 to 7 cm (mean = 4.3 cm). Cystic degeneration was noted in 9 cases. For those in-house cases, total tumor excision was performed in 12 patients and subtotal tumor excision was performed in 3 patients. Amongst the 10 patients with follow-up information available, 8 were alive. The post-operative survival ranged from 10 months to more than 13 years (mean survival = 6 years). Classic histopathologic features included an admixture of mononuclear cells, bizarre multinucleated giant cells, spindled cells and lipid-rich vacuolated cells. The tumor cells were associated with abundant lymphocytes and reticulin fibers. They showed little tumor necrosis or mitotic activity. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated diffuse positive staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin and S-100 protein. Seventy-seven percent of the cases also showed positive staining for CD34. One case had anaplastic transformation, with increased mitotic activity (mitotic countor= 5 per 10 high power fields). The tumor cells infiltrated the underlying cerebral cortex with extension into perivascular spaces in 2 cases. Radiologic examination revealed tumor recurrence with diffuse leptomeningeal spread in 1 case.PXA is low-grade glial tumor, corresponding to WHO grade II. Cases with typical pathologic features and total tumor excision carry favorable prognosis. Local recurrence or anaplastic transformation may occur in rare examples. Histologically, PXA can be mistaken as WHO grade IV giant cell glioblastoma, as both entities possess tumor giant cells. PXA however harbors lipiodized astrocytes and lacks coagulative tumor necrosis and high mitotic activity. Frequent expression of CD34 in PXA is also helpful in differential diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To study the clinicopathologic features, radiologic findings, treatment modalities and prognosis of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT).The clinical features, histopathologic findings, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy of 18 cases of DNT were analyzed. Results Among the 18 cases studied, 14 were males and 4 females. The age of these patients ranged from 3 to 46 (mean age = 22. 8 years). Partial seizure was the main presenting symptom in all patients. The history of epilepsy could be as long as 17 years. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study, the tumor was hypodense on T1 and hyperdense on T2. There was neither edema nor mass effect. All but 2 cases were supratentorial and intracortical in location. Ten cases were treated by complete surgical excision and the remaining 8 tumors were partially excised. In the 14 patients with follow-up data available, 13 survived for 1.4 to 11 years after the operation (with more than 10 years survival observed in 2 patients). The average survival period was 5.5 years. None of the cases showed tumor recurrence after operation. Histologically, all tumors demonstrated a multinodular architecture and were intracortical in location, sometimes with extension into the white matter. The characteristic "glioneuronal constituent" was an essential feature for making the diagnosis of DNT. The tumor was formed by an admixture of oligodendrocyte-like cells, mature neurons and astrocytes, with obvious microcystic changes. These neurons were often dispersed singly in the mucoid matrix. In most cases, the foci of cortical dysplasia were found in adjacent areas. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated positivity for synaptophysin, neurofilament and S-100 protein in the neurons and some oligodendrocyte-like cells. The staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the oligodendrocyte-like cells was negative. Electron microscopy showed early neuronal, astrocytic and oligodendroglial differentiation of the oligodendrocyte-like cells.DNT is a benign tumor (corresponding to WHO grade I) that can be cured by surgical excision, despite sometimes incomplete tumor removal. A correct diagnosis of this entity requires thorough understanding of the clinical, radiologic, histologic and immunohistochemical features.

AIM:To elucidate the effect of various solutions for small bowel graft preservation in pigs under hypothermic storage.METHODS:The swine segmental small bowel graft was autotransplanted after it was preserved with lactated Ringer's (LR), Euro-Collins (EC), hyperosmolarity citrate adenine (HC-A) and WMO-1 solutions for 10,18 and 24 hours,respectively.The recipient survival rate, morphological structure, graft mucosal energy substances and Na( +) -K(+) ATPase activity were studied,and graft absorption was estimated with D-xylose absorption test.RESULTS:The morphological study of the grafts preserved with LR or HC-A solution for 10 hours or with EC and WMO-1 solution for 18 hours was normal 6days after operation. Mucosal ATP,total adenine nucleotides (TAN) contents and Na( +) -K(+)ATPase activity of the graft preserved with EC or WMO solution were higher than that of the graft preserved with LR or HC-A solution.Serum level of D-xylose was higher in EC and WMO-1 groups than in LR and HC-A groups when the graft was preserved for 24 hours.CONCLUSION:EC and WMO-1 solutions can preserve the swine small bowel up to 18 hours, which are superior to LR and HC-A solutions.